Improvement in fire-plugs and hydrants



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ALBERT FRANCIS ALLEN, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN FIRE-PLUGS AND HYDRANTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 122,097, dated December 2d, 187i. n

To all whom 'it may concern: ery-port B. It is, in this instance, shown to be Be it known that I, ALBERT FRANCIS ALLEN, an ordinary ground-seat valve arrange-d to open of the city and county of Providence and State` outward. It is mounted on a horizontal valveof Rhode Island, have invented certain new and stern, c, extending both ways from the valve, outusefulImprovelnentsin Hydrants and Fire-Plugs. ward as well as inward. The outer end of the My invention consists in so controlliughthe devalve-stem isiitted to a horizontal cylindrical livery oi the hydrant after water is let on from bearin g, a, which is sustained by arms extending the mains and during the service of a tire-engine radially from the interior walls of the deliveryattached thereto, that a certain draughting or port. D represents apiston or plunger, which is suction power will be requisite for taking from fitted to the interior of the upper end of the hythe hydrant a supply of water; and I do hereby draht-barrel, which is of somewhat decreased dideclare that the following speciiication, taken in ameter than the lower part, and is turned out propconnection with the drawing furnished and formerly to receive the piston. A number of annular ing a part of the same, is a clear, true, and exact recesses are cut in the vertical side of the piston, descriptionofahydrant embodyingmy invention. which, when charged with water, serve as fric- It is well known that a steam tire-engine, for tionless packing. E represents a vertical coninstance, doing service at any hydrant through necting-lever, pivoted on a bearinglocated on the which water is freely flowing under the usual high inner side of the barrel above -the delivery-port pressure will experience more or less injury upon B. The upper end of this lever is nearly horithe suction-hose and pump-valves on account of Zonta-l, and passes through a slot in a stud, d, the independent pressure exercised by the water which projects downward from the center of the between the hydrant and the pump-piston that, under side of the piston D. The lower end of the instead of being contracted, as is the case during lever is nearly vertical, and passes through a slot actual draughting service, the suction-hoseis disin the inner end ofthe valvestem c. F represents tended and weakened, the interior rings or ribs a cross-bar Vextending diametrically across the (when'such are used) become misplaced, and the upper end of the hydrant-barrel. It sustains a suction-valves of the pump become strained, for cam-lever, G, which, when turned to theright, their independent closing power is less than-the bears upon the top of the piston and holds it at normal force of the water under pressure, and its lowest point instead of allowing the pressure they can only be closed by the pressure within of the water to carry it to its highest elevation, the pump induced by the action of the piston.l whichwillreadilyfollow ifthecam-leverbeturned VIt is obvious that this undue straining of the sucto the left.

' tion-valves and suction-hose must render the ap- It will be seen that the movement of the piston paratus morel or less unfit for efficient service in D controls the valve C by means of the connectlocalities where there are no hydrants and where ing-lever E. The area of the face of the piston water must be raised by suction. should be greater than the area ofthe valve-openi Referring to the drawing, Figure 1 represents, ing at the delivery-port in order that the pressin perspective, a hydrant or lire-plug embodying ure operating upon both will cause the piston D my improvement. Fig. 2 represents the same in. to hold the valve C to its seat and prevent the in cross-vertical section. Fig. 3 represents, in delivery of water until, by the'applicationof sucvertical section, a hydrant-chamber, upon which tion, the excess of pressure upon the piston D is one or more such hydrants may be mounted. overcome; or, when a free delivery is required A represents the barrel of the hydrant. It can direct from the hydrant, the valve will remain be made of any required length ordiameter. In closed until opened by positive means-as, for inthis instance it is represented as cylindrical and stance, the downward pressure of the cam-leve] provided with a ange at'the bottom for attach- G upon the piston D, which permits the valve t( menttoahydrant-chaxnber,water-main,or branch. promptly open by the normal pressure of the wa B represents the delivery-port cut through the ter. An excess in the `area of the piston offron barrel near its top, and provided with a screwone-quarter to one-half, as may be desired, wil connection, as is usual in such, cases. C repre be found to secure good results, although a lesse: sents a controlling-valve which guards the delivexcess will, in some cases, be` suicient. It i:

evident that somewhat similar results may be accomplished by mounting upon the outer end of the controlling valve-stem c an expansive spiral spring,so set that it will -forcethe valve C against its seat and keep it closed until the application of suction is made thereto. Should a spring be so employed, however, an independent means must also be provided for opening the valve when a Free and direct delivery should be required-as, i'or instance, an auxiliary valve-rod with its inner and abutting against the inner end of thevalvestem c, and its outer end projecting through the )pposite side of the barrel, and operated longituiinally by a screw and wheel in a manner well nown. It will be obvious that, if a spring be used, hat it must have a force greater than can ever be Xercised by the water pressure from the mains; he greater the pressure in the mains, it is evilent that the suction power requisite for opening he valve will be proportionately lessened; while, n the contrary, if the force or pressure in the nain be lessened the requisite suction power will e proportionately increased. The greater the ressure on the main, it is evident that the necesity for exercising the draughting power -of the ngine is increased in order to prevent the pressre of the water from straining the suction-hose nd valves. With the valve controlled as shown erein the greater the pressure may be in the lains the closer the controlling-valve will crowd ;s seat, and, therefore, the suction force required 3 obtain water from the hydrant will be proporonately increased.

When a `steam tire-engine or pump is provided 'ith an automatic relief-valve like those, for in- ;ance, patented by me April 18th and Novemer 14th,- 1871, or with a so-called circulatingalve, it will frequently occur that the pumps ill be rendered inoperative, although' still runlng and at unabated speed. In such instances, hen used with hydrants as ordinarily constructi, the back or independent water pressure una- )idably causes undue strain upon both suction- )se and suction-valves, and, as it is, to a greater it is espeapparatus.

lesser extent, a percussive force, ally liable to result in injury to the season to prevent the hydrant from being closed Y by the freezing of the water which would otherwise be left therein.

The controlling-valve, substantially as de- Y' scribed, may be attachedv to the engine near they pump to protect the suction-valves; or it can be made separate, in an obvious manner, for temporary attachment to any hydrant when desired.-

Having thus described my invention, l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. A hydrant having its delivery-port guarded by a controlling-valve which is incapable of being opened by the normal `pressure of water from the mains, and which requires the application of draughtin g power from a pump to induce the delivery of water, as and for'the purposes specified.

2. The combination, within a hydrant, of the piston D and controlling-valve C, connected and operating substantially as described, and for the purposes specied.

3. The combination of the piston D, controlling-valve C, and cam-lever Gr,l as and for the pur poses specified.

4. In combination with'a pump and hydrant, the controlling-valve C, arranged to remain closed by resisting the highest degree of water pressure, and capable of being opened by the power of suction applied in the usual manner, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

ALBERT F. ALLEN.

Witnesses l EDWIN ME'roALF,

F. B. BYRAM. (167) 

